Day 3 (Morning. After Cynthia's return from meeting the nomads)
Practice ground.

 ----Seth-----

 As Seth threw his bow and quiver down in disgust, he shouted, "I'm useless
when it comes to this thing, or any weapon for that matter. I couldn't hit
the broadside of a mountain if my life depended on it."

 Seth glared at the distant field target dotted with his arrows. None of
them were centered. They were scattered around making the target looking
like a
mutant sea urchin to Seth.

 Seth sat down with a huff and murmered, "What use am I, if I can't fight
or even defend the warren with a weapon in hand?" Catching the gist of his
rider's frustration Alizarine sent,

 <Weapons are not much use against wraiths my rider. That is why you have
me. I don't think weapons usage is a big priority for a dragonrider. And
before you say it. It is true, circumstances may call for weapons, but with
practice you will become a very good, no the best archer you can be>.

 *Practice, practice,* sent Seth as he flopped onto his back. *I don't know
why I keep it up. Maybe, I'll never make it into a fight, or into a wing. I
bet Kat will insist I remain a courier. Or, maybe, she'll make me stay away
from all battles, eventhough I've done formation training on the ground and
in the air, and we can teleport and you can flame.  I know, both you and I
have a ways to go, but still, I don't want to remain a courier forever. You
know, I've been thinking a lot about such things. Even moreso now since they
brought that.. that..thi..*

 Before Seth could complete his thought, he heard Liz, <That 'Thing', as you
were going to say, is not only still Blanchie's rider, but your sibling's
friend and patrol partner as well. You know, just like the others who
became infected here, Blanchie's rider had no control over what she almost
did to the
Warrenlady after the talks with the nomads. I think Blanchie's rider will
be alright though if the healers can remove the entity within. Afterwards,
maybe
Blanchie's rider can give us information on fighting the hellspawn, or
their Queen>.

 *Ah, back to fighting wraiths and hellspawn, and my lack of any important
participation,* sent Seth as he picked up his bow and sighed.

 <Do not think that. You are a courier. Maybe, you will deliver battle
information. Or, if the warren falls, you might be sent for help. Azure also
told me that your sibling thinks the young riders from our clutch could not
only help defend the warrenfolk and the nomads here, but the healing place
and the coal bins. And, before you protest, don't think the bins aren't
important. What if a controling hellspawn had someone set the bins on fire?
Not only would our major means of offense be cut off, but the warren and
anyone taking refuge inside would be in danger. You just wait. We will get a
chance to do something important in this upcoming battle>.

 Seth grinned as he sent,*I think I should nickname you, Liz the IdeaLIZist,
or Liz the OptimiLIZist.*

 <And I thought you believed Alizarine was a mindful, or maybe that should
be a mouthful to say>. After a brief pause Liz continued,<No time to wonder
about such things now, we have a message to deliver>.

--------------------
Moments later. (Lower Green)

 As Seth walked across the green with a parchment in hand, he heard his name.

>"Come on... Seth!! Come here would you?" Dan'yar yelled at the young dragon
>rider as he was walking by with a message in his hand.

 As Seth walked over to Dan'yar, he self-consciously smoothed-out phantom
wrinkles and brushed off spectral motes of dust off his shirt with his free
hand. It was the Alpha Wingleader who had called him, and Seth wanted to make
sure he didn't look like a brigand.

>"Yes Dan'yar?" the boy said. "What can I do for you."

>"If you've a few moments to spare I wonder if you'd mind taking these bags
>over to my parents shop and dropping them off. We're on the way to the med
>center..."

>"Oh to see..." Seth started to say but Farr'in cut him off before he could
>continue.

>"Yes... but we're in a hurry so if you could help us out with this big
>favor." The stocky rider told him, and asked Tergath to bespeak the boys
>dragon and apologize for cutting him off with a short explanation.

>"Sure... no problem," Seth said quickly, nodding in understanding. "I'll see
>to it right away."

 After Seth tucked the parchment he had been carring in his belt, he took
the bags. As he moved off, he heard Liz.

  <Tergath's rider wants you to know, he's sorry for cutting you off. He and
his siblings want to tell their sire and dame privately about...>

 *I figured that Liz,* sent Seth before Liz finished his mindspeak.

 <Well, I was asked to tell, so I did. By the way, it was rather silly how
you fussed with your clothes when Shinner's rider called you over. There was
nothing wrong with them. Oh, except for that grass stain the size of a
dragon's egg on your tailend>.

 "What!" With a look of horror on his face, Seth stopped and turned his head
to see the unbecoming stain. Instead, he saw Liz behind him with his head
cocked to the side and his mouth slightly open in his draconian equivalent
of a smile.

 *Oh that was funny Liz. By the way, there is a kink in your tail.*

 The red/purple looked steadly at his rider as he sent,<My rider, that wont
phase me. I know my tail is kinked. It's been that way since I hatched>.

 *I know,* sent Seth with a smile on his face as he turned and walked away.

 Without having to look back, Seth knew Liz was sitting on his haunches with
a look of utter confusion on his draconian visage as he pondered what, or
if, his rider's last words were suppose to mean something.

*********************
Upper Green(Afternoon)

 ----Katrina----

 From the upper green, Kat had a good view of the warren as it preped for
battle. There were dragons in the air, dragons along the rim of the warren,
and dragons on the lower green. Kat couldn't see the wraiths yet, but she
knew they would come. She now knew all that had transpired over the last few
days. The infecting of warrenfolk by a hellspawn, the ralling of the nomads,
the hive queen, and Lenna's part in what was now happening.

 The recollection of Lenna's part in what had transpired, caused Kat to shiver.
Lenna, unbeknownst to the warren, as well as to herself, had been an
informer to, and an instigator of, the hellspawn's Queen. Kat's friend and
partner had
been taken over and manipulate. It hurt Kat to think of Lenna going through
that. Lenna had been through so much already. Thankfully, that 'thing' within
her was inactive now. And, if the healers succeed, Lenna would be free of it.

 *But how will Lenna fair afterwards?. Or, will she even come through it
alive,* thought Kat. The sounds of Cynthia, Trevor, Meena, Kellie and
Dan'yar gathering around the upper green's edge brought Kat out of her
musings. Dan'yar handed her a telescope and Kat had her first view of the
hellspawn wraiths. They were a good distance away, but there was no doubt
where they were headed. There was such a mass of them that they looked like
a single entity. And in a sense, with a Queen controling them, one could
say, maybe they were. Kat returned her attention to the group gathered
around as
they discussed how to proceed.

   [Insert John's 'Switching..., and Alton's 'Fire...' posts]

----------------
Moments later

 After the wraith known as Amar revealed himself from within Danki, Kat
had reached for her dagger belt. *This must of been the one who caused havoc
amongst the warrenfolk and the nomads. Now, it is using Danki. And, eventhough
I loath the idea, I will willing incapacitate Danki if this Amar makes any
hostile move towards anyone currently on the upper green,* thinks Kat.

 As Amar put forth his reason for, and offer of, helping Cleft in exchange
for a host body, Kat was torn between wanting to accept the offer and wanting
to throttle Danki/Amar until the wraith transfered to her. Then, Kat could
attempt to end it all, and hope the thing died with her.

 <That last part is rather rash my rider. You don't know if you would
succeed. And if you attempted it, not only would the warren be back where
it started,
but it would be minus a rider, and, I remind you, a dragon. What Amar proposes
makes sense. He has information that could be of value>.

 Kat had to admit, the idea of Amar's assistance, with the addition of
C'aranth's noble offer to provide a host and remove Amar afterwards, made
sense. Kat didn't have to like the idea though. And, Kat wasn't above taking
down Amar if he so much as hinted at treachery.

 After all was settled between both parties, Kat looked in the direction of
the hellspawn incursion. Kat didn't fear the actual battle, no matter what
the odds. She was a dragonrider-it was part of her duty. What Kat did fear,
was harm coming to Cynthia or Maddy, or any innocent warrenfolk or nomads.
Not to mention the mere thought of Cleft falling. Those things, as well as
the thought of harm coming to her brother Seth troubled Kat.

 Kat tried to take an optimistic view of things though. The riders would
succeed. Cynthia and Maddy, and everyone taking refuge would remain safe.
As for Seth, he would manage to survive, or escape if Cleft was compromised.
Or, maybe, the boy would be away delivering a message. Thus, avoiding a take
over of the warren. This last thought about Seth caused the phrase, 'Run boy,
run behind the lines and tell all about a once great place known as Cleft,'
to jump into Kat's head.

 <My rider, if you are done contemplating obscure phrases the wings are
gathering on the lower green to go over battle tactics>.

 As Kat mounted and flew down to the lower green the words, 'And so it
begins,' came to mind.

**********************
On the wing. (Later)

----Katrina-------

 It seemed as if night had fallen early. The sky was blanketed with a
seething mass of wraiths. Kat had never seen a massing in her time as a
rider. Although, she knew they had swarmed before. She need only recall the
hellspawn battle in which Lenna had went missing. Kat hadn't fought in that
battle, but she had heard about it. Kat however, had no more time to
compare that battle with this one. The wraiths were surging forward like
some dark
undulating fungus consuming the land.


 Katrina lost track of time. It was like she was trapped in the same
continuous moment in time. A moment composed of; Ascend, Descend, Dive,
Turn, Flame, Recover and Repeat in a variety of combinations. Kat worked in
unison with the wing, as well as with smaller groups of riders in forays
against lesser groupings of wraiths.

 "Dive Katrina," came a loud shout from above and behind her!

 Without thinking who called, or why, Kat and Azure dived. As soon as they
affected the move, Kat turned to see three wraiths where Azure's flank had
been. Azure being of a slighter stature then most dragon, was able to affect
a sharp turn and flame one of the three wraiths which had been baring down
on them. The other two had been flamed by the other rider while Azure had
been enacting her turn.

 "Thanks for saving me one," called Kat with a grinned to the other rider. Kat
then brought Azure about and zeroed in on another group of oncoming wraiths.

 Ascend, Turn, and Flame.

 Descend, Turn, Flame, Turn, and Dive.

 Dive, Turn, Flame, Ascend, Turn, and Flame.

 It was like a dance. A variety of combinations, but all working in unison
for a single purpose. The purpose of this dance however, was not as a means
of entertainment.

 <My rider, we are low on coal> sent Azure.

 *Check to see who else is low. We can leave whoever has enough surplus to
cover while we head to Cleft with those needing to replenish. Maybe, we can
bring some spare sacks back to refuel the others.*

 After a pause, Azure sent, <We need not return to Cleft. I have been
informed that there is a coal stash not far from here. I don't know who set
it up, but it is amongst a rocky bluff. There are a few riders watching the
area, but no visable signs of wraiths at the moment. So I don't think it is
a trap. Right now, there isn't enough sacks to supply a whole wing, but
there is enough to save time>.

 *Make sure the others that need refueling know about the stash. Also,
mention to them to stagger their teleports so it doesn't look like we are
up to anything.*

 Moments later Kat appeared near the rocky area. In addition to her, there
were four other riders who had come. All of them were on the ground loading
their dragons with sacks. The sacks themselves had been stashed in a samll
cave accessed through a crevice in the rocky bluff. There were three young
riders protecting the area. Of the three, two were in the air above the
bluff keeping watch, and the third was helping load the sacks on the ground.

 As Kat watched the action on the ground, Azure started to sprial down.
Azure and Kat however, didn't get far before they heard,"Wraiths!"

 Kat, who was still a ways from the bluff, looked around quickly to see six
wraiths break from a sparsely vegitated and rock spewn area near the bluff.
They must of lain in wait. Perhaps, they had hid, stalked, and then timed
their attack. Kat shuddered at such a thought. Such a move was too unusual
for creatures who usually attacked mindlessly. But Kat reminded herself,
these weren't ordinary wraiths, there was a controling mind directing them.
So
maybe it was possible for them to act in such a way.

 Two wraiths came for Kat, the rest for the riders near the bluff. The four
riders that had been loading, as well as the rider who had been assisting
them, had yet to remount. The two watchers, who were already airbound, had
the best chance to deal with the wraiths baring down on the bluff. For the
moment, Kat was alone with the the two headed her way. This normally would
not have been a problem for Kat, but Azure's response changed that.

 <We have no coal, and I have no reserve flame my rider. I told the others
below. They will came as soon as they can>.

 *Evasive manuavers Azure. I guess we'll have to keep our two occupied, or
make them give-up on us. I suppose we could teleport, but I don't want to
leave the others, in case they may need us! So let us get to to it!*

 The dance began again. But this time, there was no flame, the dancers were
weary, and the dancers had yet to be joined by a chorus.

 When the hit came, Kat felt both a mental and a physical pain as Azure
cried, <My Wing>!

 The next thing Katrina felt-was fear. A fear that was threatening to
overcome her as she watched the ground rushing up to meet her.

*********
NRPG:
All: First, sorry if the end seems overdramatic. It just manifested that way.

 I wanted Kat to come out scathed. The stash idea presented a chance to get
her away from the main wing. The idea of a stash made sense considering the
number of wraiths. It would provide a time saver. I based the wraith's
planned attack on the premise that if there is a controling mind behind
them, a mind that might have gathered tactical info from Lenna, the wraiths
might be
capable of such a move.

 As to who rescues Kat/Azure, anyone is free to do so. Injury-wise, Azure
has a badly burnt wing joint and a wing sail. Or would that be wing
membrane?  Hope the healers can fix it. Kat jumped before Azure hit the
ground, or maybe she was thrown, so she wasn't crushed. For Kat, a mild
concussion(her helm
could have helped her from worse). She also has lots of bruises and a
broken arm. Okay, I think I've bashed Kat up enough.

 Lastly, I hope I included everyone that was on the upper green. That section
didn't come together like I wanted to. But I wanted to do something with
Kat's reaction to the battle, Amar's offer, and Lenna's part in things. Oh,
and if there are any theatre buffs out there, you might note that the line
about
'run boy....' was snatched from the end of Camalot as it fell. That phrase
just jumped into my head as I was writing that part.

 Okay, I'm done rambling.

*********
Respectfully,
Kris B.

Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine
Also; Tess, Serina, and Samuel Silvera.
Cleft Warren



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